The city council, after its special session last July 11, in preparation for the executive-legislative agenda setting on the last week of July, will resume its regular session.
The council is set to take up proposals of the councilors which include the proposed ordinance of Leandro Yangot Jr. that seeks to regulate busking in Baguio.
Street performance or busking is the act of performing in public places for gratuities. The performers or buskers engaged in busking must have permits issued by the city government.
The proposal also aims to enhance sound entertainment from various arts and culture in concurrence with Baguio’s title as a creative city.
In the proposal, the vital role of local artists must be emphasized and their contribution to the recognition must be appropriately rewarded in the form of money and other gratuities such as food, drink or gifts.
“People really appreciate seeing and hearing interesting things when they are walking around some of the major destinations in the city like the central business district, parks, playgrounds and other spots especially children, they are excited when they come across an unexpected act, as music adds charm to any place.”
Busking is a hugely overlooked art form, from it you can gain exposure, a surprisingly diverse fan base, other paid performance opportunities, paid practice time in front of a live audience, and make enough to live on.
It brings free live music to everyone no matter who they are or how much money they have in their pockets. It allows local artists to share their natural talent to the public. In Europe and other countries, busking is a well-accepted activity.
Another is the proposed ordinance introduced by Betty Lourdes Tabanda that seeks a local senior citizen social pension program for Baguio.
The objective of the program is to improve the living condition of the elderly and to augment their capacity to meet daily needs through any financial assistance from all sources available especially to those unemployed, with no regular income or do not receive financial support from family, relative or any institution.
Senior social pension refers to the monthly stipend amounting to P500 to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of the indigent senior citizen.
Pursuant to Section 5(h) of Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, indigent senior citizens shall be entitled to a monthly stipend amounting to P500 to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of senior citizens, subject to a review every two years by Congress, in consultation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
In Tabanda’s proposal, beneficiaries must be a Filipino citizen and at least 65 years old at the time of the application; resident of Baguio and a holder of an Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs ID; not employed nor receiving a regular financial or material support from family members or relative; not receiving a regular pension of more than P3,000 from the Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System or private company; and not a social pensioner/beneficiary/recipient or any other financial assistance from the local or national government or institution.
The other proposed ordinances are: Formally declaring all pine trees in Baguio as heritage trees and protected trees; appropriating P4 million in the 2023 budget for the conduct of a massive information drive and public hearings and for the conduct of a plebiscite for the proposed rationalization of barangays in of Baguio, and strengthening the operation of satellite markets and establishing additional district satellite markets.
Proposed resolutions prescribing the guidelines for the operation and management of barangay satellite markets has also been submitted.
